The Guardian (And livening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const Times.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 15th, 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And livening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const Times.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 15th, 1921.

TJIK POLITICAL TItKM). Tin: political trend in the British Empire :it this juncture is hugely for change. The four years of intensive) v.ar conditions had a disturbing effect on the public mind. There was a radical change in the line of thought. Suddenly, wilh a dislocating effect, the whole trend of liio itself w».s changed. The hum-drum of the previous yeais gave way in a night- to u task which was to call forth the whole strength of the tuition if it- was to save itself. And the struggle was not short-lived. On tho contrary it extended far heyond the term expected, and v hat proved more disturbing still, became more intensive still as the years went by. In 1914 the war period was entered upon almost lightly. It- was considered to he a matter of a few months only. But the enemy was not long in asserting his strength, and as the intensity grew, it became evident n desperate struggle was to eventuate. Events <| 11 ito unanticipated as within the region of possibilities, came to pa-s. and in the seriousness ot the terrific conflict, a new condition of [edition! action became imperative. The nation Imd to he organised to save itself. Thera was nothing else to do. T..e enemy were at the gates so to speak. To falter or to flag, was to lose the war, and potmit the triumph of an enemy whose every action was merciless, whose every deed was reckless nod j daring to the- point of victory atul supremacy at all costs. And so the nation had to he organised. This wan done politically. Compulsion became the order of the day. Whether it were men money, or material—till had to he provided, gemuou-ljv and lavishly. What could not be had readily, had to 1.0 taken. A new political atmosphere was created, and that action led tip to a ttidica! change in the political thoughts of the people, the results of which are not yet fully realised. Then came the armistice, and afterwards peace. But war-time conditions did not cense, nor was there an end to the effect of those conditions. On the contrary, the change back from war to peace was more dislocating than the change a few years before from pence to war. For ‘be whole nation had been organised for war, and normal conditions could not be imposed by the sweet will of anyone. There lmd been too great an undoing to expect the old order to re-establish itself without hitches and delays. The labor market, the money market, the food market-, the trade market, the shipping market—all these great avenues of industrial peace and prosperity had Ik'.ii dislocated. Everything was out of gear, and it seemed impossible to ie-as.semble the old machinery in the same sweet running order as before. It has not been possible to do so vet. And it is still the task of the political leaders to master the situation. But they may not do so by mere dictum. The people have to he educated on tho point. The nation as |t whqlfl

has to be In ought to realise where the war and the altorinath has landed it. Tli? matter of unemployment, the question of wages rising in sympathy with a perturbed money market, the shortage of food and consequent higher prices, the transference of trade biought about by difficulties in securing manufacturing material all these factors and more, have bad their effect on the political trend of public thought to-day, and so we find a new condition arising in which the people are nok satisfied with what formerly prevailed am! are—often vaguely and uudeoisivoly—seeking for something which they f. <ff they want, but cannot describe. This is a matter for further reference and consideration if we are to helpsolve the political problems which arc with us, and the subject will he taken up agan later.